Notre Dame OL Bullard to transfer

Published Jan. 7, 2011 1:08 p.m. ET

foxsports

Notre Dame sophomore offensive lineman Alex Bullard is transferring from Notre Dame to attend a school closer to his family in Franklin, Tenn.

Notre Dame has granted him his release. Bullard, a backup, has been dealing with the death of his father from cancer.

''Alex is a great young man that I enjoyed working with this year and fully understand and support his desires to attend a school closer to his mother and sister,'' Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said Friday in a release.